Number of Associate Degrees and Certificates Awarded Per Hundred Students: Mississippi

What Is Measured?

Number of certificates and associate degrees awarded per hundred students enrolled in the same year

Who Is Counted?

All certificate and associate degree completers out of all students enrolled over a 12-month period

What It Tells Us

In 2014, Mississippi Community Colleges awarded 0.44 certificates of less than one year per hundred students, 3.83 certificates of one year to less than two years per hundred students, 0.01 certificates of two years or more per hundred students, and 11.66 associate degrees per hundred students, for a total of 15.95 subbaccalaureate credentials awarded per hundred students.

Why It's Important

Government officials, foundations, and researchers are calling on U.S. postsecondary institutions to graduate more students with certificates and degrees, and as the largest single sector of postsecondary education, community colleges are a major focus of this effort. Labor market demand for jobs specifically requiring postsecondary education at the subbaccalaureate level is growing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that 6 of the top 10 fastest-growing occupations between 2004 and 2014 will require a subbaccalaureate credential, the kind that is typically earned at a community college. Tracking the number of associate degrees and certificates community colleges issue each year shows how closely they are meeting this demand.

About the Data

Certificate requirements range from less than 1 credit to more than 100 credits and are reported in categories of full-time academic years required for completion. Not all states award certificates in all categories. Students who complete more than one award in the same year are counted multiple times.

Unduplicated annual enrollment includes all students enrolled within a 12-month period regardless of when they first enroll.

Data from the most recent year may not be final and are subject to revision.